Thursday, February 27, 2014

WhatsApp: Facebook's Weapon for Taking on the Telcos | LinkedIn

From a timely telco reality check

"Facebook's nonprofit, Internet.org, looks like a feel-good plea to extend Internet access to those who most need it -- and it may be that. (Samsung and Nokia are also backing the initiative.) But it's also a clever ploy, because wireless carriers represent an enormous middleman standing between Zuckerberg and his customers. If he can rally public opinion behind Internet.org's noble aims, it makes Facebook look good while putting carriers in the position of giving away their services for free -- or else looking greedy and miserly.In the end, Facebook and Google would be much happier if they didn't have to depend on wired and wireless companies to connect them with consumers. They're taking different paths toward carrier independence, but their goal appears to be very similar."